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Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Diane Black (R-TN) joined by Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise (R-LA), Pro-Life Caucus Co-Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Value Action Team Co-Chairmen Joe Pitts and John Fleming and 19 additional House members re-introduced the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. This bill ensures that Title X family planning grants are used for their intended purpose and are prohibited from being used by organizations that provide abortions.

“As a nurse for more than 40 years, I have spent my career protecting the sanctity of life. I am proud to continue fighting for the rights of the unborn by introducing this important legislation that ensures no federal funds are used for the promotion or performance of abortions. By clarifying the original intent and spirit of the law, Title X federally funded grants will no longer be awarded to Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the United States, or any other organization that abuses their privileges as health care providers and fails to protect life by providing abortions. It is long past time for Congress to respect the will of the American people and stop taxpayer funded abortions – a heinous abuse of the law and destruction of innocent life,” said Congressman Diane Black.

"It is offensive to me and millions of Americans that taxpayer money is used to pay for or subsidize abortions, and by ending taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers we will save millions of lives and reduce our deficit by hundreds of millions of dollars. I applaud Congressman Black for taking the lead to end taxpayer funding of abortions, and am proud to cosponsor this important legislation,” said RSC Chairman Steve Scalise.

“I commend my distinguished colleague, Diane Black, for introducing this important legislation to cut off taxpayer funding for the abortion industry, including Planned Parenthood—the largest abortion chain in America. Planned Parenthood does roughly 330,000 abortions each and every year. On average, that is more than 900 abortions a day, 37 an hour and one abortion every two minutes. There is nothing whatsoever benign or caring or just about abortion. Abortion chemically poisons or dismembers children piece by piece. It is child abuse. It is time to take a second look at Planned Parenthood—‘Child Abuse, Incorporated,’” said Pro-Life Caucus Co-Chairman Chris Smith.

“I’m proud to support Congressman Black’s bill to keep federal funds from going to organizations that perform abortions. While current law prevents federal dollars from being directly used to perform abortions, money continues to flow to organizations that offer the procedure at the same site as other approved services. Federal funds help keep the lights on at abortion clinics. I’m glad to see my colleague take up this important legislation. She is a leading pro-life voice in the House of Representatives and I know that she will work tirelessly to pass legislation that protects vulnerable lives,” said Value Action Team Co-Chairman Pitts.

“Life is a sacred gift to be valued and I'm grateful that Rep. Black has taken up the mantle, long carried by former Representative Mike Pence, to end federal funding of Planned Parenthood. I will continue to stand with her in this fight to stop the flow of taxpayer dollars to groups that perform abortions, including Planned Parenthood - the nation's largest single abortion provider. It is never okay to use federal funding to promote the grisly, destructive practice of abortion,” said Values Action Team Co-Chairman Fleming.

Despite the fact that the law which authorizes Title X “family planning” funding explicitly states that these funds are barred from being used for abortion directly or for programs where abortion is a method of family planning, organizations like Planned Parenthood continue to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer dollars to subsidize its abortion business. While abortion providers continue to claim that “no federal funds pay for abortion,” audited financial records show no meaningful separation of funds to ensure tax dollars do not subsidize its abortion practices. Planned Parenthood has been found to use federal funds to support the services and products rendered in connection with abortions, including office visits, ultrasounds, Rh factor tests, lab work, general counseling, and abortion aftercare.

Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act is supported by various organizations including, the Susan B. Anthony List, Family Research Council Action, National Right to Life Committee, Tennessee Right to Life, Americans United for Life Action, and the Eagle Forum.

Background: A longtime pro-life leader, Congressman Black has championed key pro-life legislation at the state and federal level. The first piece of legislation Congressman Black introduced as a member of Congress was HConRes36 which would defund Planned Parenthood in the Continuing Resolution spending bill which cut $38 billion for the remaining six months of the Fiscal Year 2011. In the Tennessee Legislature, she sponsored SJR 127 to defund Planned Parenthood at the state level, and sponsored the 2009 state law making Tennessee the first state to opt out of abortion funding mandates of Obamacare.